Air-brake signal



W. J. GREB.

AIR BRAKE SIGNAL; APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28. 1919.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. GREB, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

AIR-BRAKE SIGNAL.

Application filed February 28, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VZILLIAM J. GREB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air- Brake Signals, of which the following 1s a specification, reference being had thereln to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an air brake signal, and has for its object the improvement of the construction of a signaling device or apparatus which will promptly and efficiently indicate when the supply pressure has fallen below a given point or amount.

Another object of the invention is the con struction of a signaling device or apparatus which can be easily adjusted at all times for keeping the same in a condition for promptly signaling when the air pressure is low, and which device or apparatus can be easily disassembled, as well as assembled, when it is desired to examine the interior parts.

W'ith these and other objects in view, my invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter specifically de'- scribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In. the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical, central, sectional view of a device or apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 38, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates a supply pipe that may communicate with air brakes and a pressure tank, and suitably connected in communication with the supply pipe 1 is a gage 2.

1y improved signaling device or apparatus comprises a base or inner section 3 having a threaded portion 4, threaded into the supply pipe 1, and the inner section is exteriorly threaded at 5, and threaded upon this portion 5 is the intermediate section 6, and threaded into the intermediate section 6 at 7 is the outer section 8. Threaded at 9, upon the outer section 8, is the cap 10.

A float valve 11 is mounted in the in- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

Serial No. 279,733.

ner casing 3 and the intermediate casing 6. The valve or valve casing 11 is provided with a longitudinally-extending passage 12 communicating with a plurality of laterallyeXtending outlets or apertures 18. Upon the upper or outer face 14 of the valve casing 11 is formed a valve seat-engaging face that engages the valve seat 15 formed upon the upper, inner portion of the intermediate section 6. The valve casing 11 has an integral extension 16 that receives the lower pointed end 17 of the plunger rod 18.

The plun errod 18 is provided with an integral disk-like portion 19, that has a shoulder upon its upper or outer face and around which shoulder fits the inner end of coil spring 20. A disk 21, similar to disk 19, is loosely mounted upon the rod 18, and around the shoulder portion of this disk 21 the outer or upper end of coil spring 20 fits. This disk 21 constitutes a follower and is used to press upon the springr20 for controlling the tension thereof. A hollow sleeve 22 is exteriorly threaded into the outer end of the outer section 8, and presses at its inner end upon the outer face of the follower or disk 21. This sleeve 22 has at its outer end a suitable portion 23 for receiving a wrench, and on the sleeve 22 between the outer end of the outer section 8 and the portion 23 is a lock nut 24, whereby, when the sleeve 22 has been adjusted to the desired position for sufiiciently controlling the tension on spring 20, the lock nut 24 can be screwed down against the outer end of the section 8, and positively retain the sleeve 22 in its adjusted positlon.

To protect the outer end of the plunger rod 18, extension 23 and nut 24, I thread upon the outer end of the outer section a cap 10.

Near the inner end of the outer section 8, I provide a plurality of outlet openings 25 for permitting the escape of air. The operatlon of the signal is as follows: If the deviceis to be set for indicating when the pressure in a source of supply has fallen below forty pounds, the sleeve 22 is adjusted so that the tension on spring 20 will cause the spring to force inwardly or downwardly valve 11, away from valve seat 15, permitting the air, or liquid (whichever is in the source of supply) to pass through the central passage .12, outlets 13, thence by the valve seat 15 and out through the outlets or apertures 25. As long as the pressure in the source of supply, and the supply pipe 1. remains ,above the predetermined point, say forty pounds, then the strength of the spring is overcome, and the pressure in the supply pipe 1 is suflicient for holding the valve 11in its seated position, as shown in Fig. l, keeping the outlets or ports closed so that no liquid or air will escape to indicate a low pressure.

It is to be understood that the inner, intermediate, and outer sections constitute a casing, and that in this casing are valve means engaged by spring-pressed plunger for unseating the valve means at predetermined intervals; the specific, novel structure of this type of a casing, valve means, and the unseating spring-controlled means being hereinbefore specifically described.

I wish it to be understood that I reserve the right to make such minor alterations and modifications as shall appear to one skilled in the art to which. this invention relates, which changes or alterations fall fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

l Vhat I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, the

combination with .a casing, valve means in' said casing, of a plunger-rod engaging said valve means for unseating the same at predetermined intervals, said plunger-rod provided with an integral extension having a shoulder portion, a bodily-movable follower having a shoulder portion mounted upon said plunger-rod, a coil spring between the extension of the plunger-rod and the follower and having its ends surrounding said shoulders, a hollow sleeve threaded upon said casing and positioned around said plunger-rod and engaging at its inner end the follower, said sleeve having at its upper end a wrench-engaging portion and a lock nut threaded upon said hollow sleeve between the casing and the wrench-engaging portion and engaging the casing for locking the sleeve in an adjusted position for controlling the tension of the spring acting upon the extension of the plunger-rod.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, .valve means in said casing, of a plunger cooperating with said valve means for unseating the same at predetermined intervals, yieldable means acting upon the plunger for exerting pressure thereon, means for controlling the amount of exertion on the plunger by said yieldable means, and said controlling means provided with locking .means engaging the casing for holding the controlling means in Y a fixed, adjusted position.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, valve means in said casing, of a plunger engaging said valve means and extending through the outer end of the casing, yieldable means surrounding the plunger, receiving means on the plunger receiving the inner end of said yieldable means, a follower slidably mountec on the plunger and engaging the outer end of the yieldable means, a sleeve extending through the outer end of the casing and projecting beyond the outer and inner faces of the outer end of the casing and engaging at its inner end said follower, and locking means on the sleeve outside of the casing for locking the sleeve in an adjusted position.

I11 testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM J. GREB. 

